Meritorious Artist Quế Trân (right) plays Mother Thượng Dương in historical play Câu Thơ Yên Ngựa (Poetry and Saddle) at the press conference to introduce new show called Cải Lương: Trăm Năm Nguồn Cội (Reformed Opera: A Hundred Year History) held in HCM City last week. Photo tuoitre.vn

HCM CITY — A new show called Cải Lương: Trăm Năm Nguồn Cội (Reformed Opera: A Hundred-Year History) will take place in HCM City next month.

The 100-minute show is written and directed by Quang Thảo, who has made several TV shows featuring cải lương and theatrical drama.

It will open with performances of đờn ca tài tử and vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes), featuring cải lương stars Thanh Kim Huệ, Vũ Linh and Ngọc Đợi.

Composer Huỳnh Khải, former head of the traditional music department of the HCM City Conservatory of Music, will provide explanations about the history of cải lương, and its orchestra and musical instruments.

Excerpts from popular cải lương plays such as Đời Cô Lựu (Ms Lựu’s Life) and Câu Thơ Yên Ngựa (Poetry and Saddle) will be featured.

People’s Artist Bạch Tuyết will play the role of Lựu, a Vietnamese woman who faces challenges and sufferings under the feudal society in the south.

She will perform along with veteran artists Việt Anh, Trinh Trinh and Quang Thảo.

Đời Cô Lựu is a production by well-known scriptwriter Trần Hữu Trang. Since its debut by the Thanh Minh -Thanh Nga Troupe in 1930s, the play has been staged many times by art troupes in HCM City and southern provinces.

Meanwhile, Meritorious Artist Quế Trân will play the leading role of Queen Mother Thượng Dương in the historical play Câu Thơ Yên Ngựa about a war of throne during the Lý Dynasty.

The performance will also feature experienced performers Điền Trung and Tú Sương.

Câu Thơ Yên Ngựa was written by Hoàng Yến, Ngọc Văn and Thanh Tòng in 1982. Directed by Tòng, the play was first performed by the Minh Tơ Cải Lương Troupe in Sài Gòn, and later has been restaged by different troupes.

The show will also screen video clips on the history of cải lương and late People’s Artist Phùng Há, a legend of cải lương.

The Cải Lương: Trăm Năm Nguồn Cội show will take place on July 7, 13 and 14 at Bến Thành Theatre at 6 Mạc Đỉnh Chi Street in District 1. Tickets are available at the theatre’s box office. VNS